Today the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released three reports on activities that are an integral part of the Bush Administration's ambitious trade agenda: (1) the "Super 301" report discussing the Administration's trade expansion priorities, (2) the "Special 301" report on protection of intellectual property rights abroad, and (3) the "Title VII" report on foreign government procurement practices.

"Together these reports underscore the Administration's strong commitment to ensuring that Americans reap the benefits of the trade agreements that we negotiate," stated U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick. "They also demonstrate the importance of vigilant monitoring of U.S. trade agreements and quick responses to non-compliance - including through the use of WTO and NAFTA dispute settlement procedures, WTO oversight committees, and U.S. trade law tools."

The reports cite recent accomplishments in the area of open trade, such as the pledge by President Bush and the leaders of 33 other nations in the Western Hemisphere to complete the negotiations on a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) no later than January 2005. The reports also highlight progress on a number of trade disputes, including the recent resolution of the longstanding dispute with the European Union over bananas and an agreement by Mexico to liberalize imports of dry beans from the United States.

"Enforcement must remain a key priority," stated Ambassador Zoellick, "and we must step up our efforts to monitor compliance with our trade agreements and insist on performance by our trading partners. This Administration will not hesitate to use the full power of U.S. and international law to do so."

BACKGROUND

The three reports released today were prepared in close consultation with other U.S. government agencies and rely on information submitted by the public and U.S. embassies abroad. These reports build on and complement the 2001 Trade Policy Agenda (released on March 1, 2001), the 2001 NTE Report (released on March 31, 2001), and the review of telecommunications trade agreements under section 1377 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (released on April 2, 2001). The "Super 301" report, originally required under Section 310 of the Trade Act of 1974, was prepared pursuant to Executive Order 13116 of March 31, 1999; the "Special 301" report was prepared pursuant to section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974; and the "Title VII" report, originally required under Title VII of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, also was prepared pursuant to E.O. 13116.